Yarn controlling device for knitting machines



Dec. 21, 1965 MISHCON 3,224,229

YARN CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r 2 12 \76 73 INVENTOR LESTER MISHCON WITNESS BY [in/ii 5; 4 WZLZQ J ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1955 MISHCON 3,224,229-

YARN CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. LESTER MISHCON ATTORNEY L. MISHCON Dec. 21, 1965 YARN CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 6, 1963 MIMI! Fig. 4,

INVENTOR. BY LESTER MISHCON ial/K WI TNESS w w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,224,229 YARN CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Lester Mishcon, Miami Beach, Fla., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Singer Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,135 22 Claims. (Cl. 66-132) This invention relates to knitting machines, and more particularly to a novel yarn controlling arrangement for knitting machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide a single yarn furnishing unit for a knitting machine capable at the discretion of the operator of delivering yarn to the knitting instrumentalities in any selected one of a wide range of conditions either in measured quantities precisely meeting the demand of the knitting instrumentalities or under accurate and consistent tension. This invention thus provides a universal yarn furnishing unit for knitting machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide a single yarn controlling unit acting in like fashion upon all of the yarns being directed to a multi-feed knitting machine so as to eliminate any variation in the condition of the yarns being furnished to the knitting instrumentalities. This invention thus provides for multi-feed knitting of cloth to higher standards of uniformity both in shape and length of stitch courses and in the absence of lengthwise bars or streaks than has been heretofore attainable.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a yarn furnishing unit for a knitting machine which exerts a unique successive controlling influence over a far greater length of the yarn being delivered to the knitting instrumentalities than heretofore. The condition of the yarns as furnished to the knitting instrumentalities by the successive controlling influence of the device of this invention is not effected by the condition of the yarn as supplied to the furnishing unit and, therefore, uneven yarn sup-.

ply packages cease to be a problem, and the necessity for rewinding of cones is eliminated. The successive controlling influence over a greater length of the yarn provided by the device of this invention imposes a gentler action upon the yarn and thus the device of this invention can accommodate weaker and more delicate yarns. Suflicient length of each yarn is stored in the yarn controlling unit of this invention that the yarns may be guided from the supply packages in a more direct path than heretofore without sacrificing that optimum total lenth of yarn from each supply package to the knitting instrumentalities which will deter fabric drop-out should yarn breakage be sensed. As a result, a lower, more compact and accessible yarn stand arrangement is possible and the danger of interference of one yarn with another is effectively eliminated.

With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 represents a side elevational view of a multifeed circular knitting machine having this invention applied thereto,

FIG, 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the yarn control device of this invention and one feeding station of the knitting machine taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross section of a portion of the yarn control device of this invention taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 1, and

ice

FIG. 4 represents a top plan view of the yarn control device of this invention including the driving connections for the yarn engaging rollers viewed substantially from line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates an overall view of a knitting machine and to FIG. 2 which includes an enlarged illustration of the knitting instrumentalities, the knitting machine to which this invention is applied comprisees a frame including a housing ring 11, floor supported by legs 12. A gear ring 13 formed with depending gear teeth 14 is journaled between the housing ring' 11 and a retaining ring 15 secured on the housing ring. The gear teeth 14 mesh with a pinion 16 fast on a drive shaft 17 journaled in one of the legs 12 and connected by means of a clutch device 18 and by way of'a chain 19 to an electric motor 20.

A needle cylinder 21 is secured as by bolts 22 to the gear ring 13 and is formed on the outer wall with evenly spaced vertical slots 23 adapted to accommodate therein a bank of endwise slidable knitting needles indicated generally as 24. Each knitting needle of the bank is formed with a similarly shaped yarn engaging hook 25 and with a latch blade 26 pivoted beneath the hook. The knitting needles may be divided into two groups, one group formed each with a butt 27 at one distance from the needle hooks 25, and the other group formed each with a butt 27 at a greater distance from the needle hooks 25. Secured to the housing ring 11 are a multiplicity of section blocks 30 each adapted to support sets of cams for engaging the butts 27 and 27 of both groups of needles for reciprocating the needles endwise. section blocks 30 may be constructed as disclosed in the United States patent of Lester Mishcon et al. No. 2,941,383, June 21, 1960 to which reference may be had. In FIG. 2, one set of the cams are illustrated including needle raising cams 31 and 31' for the needle butts 27 and 27 respectively, and stitch cams 32 and 32' cooperating with the needle butts 27 and 27 respectively. Adjusting knobs 33 are provided on the section blocks 30 one knob for each set of cams 31, 31, 32, 32', and each knob 33 serves to adjust simultaneously the switch' cams 32 and 32 of the set of cams to which it corresponds. The machine frame includes a plurality of standards 40 rising from the housing ring 11 and sustaining a webbed ring 41 above the needle cylinder from which webbed ring extends a central post 42 supporting the various parts of the yarn stand and the devices associated therewith as will be described hereinbelow. Fixed relatively to the machine frame as by bars 43 secured to the standards 40 is a sinker carrier ring 44 which encompasses the top of the needle cylinder 21. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sinker carrier ring 44 has secured thereto a sinker cam ring 45 to which sinker earns 46 are secured. Journaled beneath the sinker cam ring 45 and sustained thereon by a keeper ring 47 is a sinker rest ring 48 formed with upwardly open slots 49 each slot adapted to accommodate the shank 50 of a sinker 51. The sinker rest ring 48 meshes with the needle slots 23 in the needle cylinder thus locking the sinker rest ring and the sinkers for rotation with the needles and the cylinder. The sinkers 51 are interleaved between the needles 24 in slots 52 formed in the needle cylinder top and the sinkers are reciprocated transversely of the needles by sinker butts 53 acted upon by the sinker cams 46 as is known in the art so as to cooperate with the needles in the formation of knit fabric.

Secured on the sinker carrier ring 44 are a multiplicity of yarn carriers 60, one corresponding to each set of needle actuating cams 31, 32 and 31, 32 arranged about the needle cylinder. Each yarn carrier is formed with yarn guiding eyelets 61, 62 and is arranged as is known The in the art so as to introduce yarn to the knitting needle hooks for incorporation into the fabric being knit. Each yarn carrier 60 together with the appropriate sinker cam 56 and needle earns 31, 32, 31', 32' for actuating the knitting instrumentalities to cooperate with the yarn carrier and to incorporate the delivered yarn into the knit fabric are referred to collectively as a feed. A multifeed knitting machine refers to an arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 1 in which many such feeds are arraged about the needle cylinder.

The knitted fabric indicated at K in FIGS. 1 and 2 descends in a tube from the knitting instrumentalities and is acted upon by a fabric take up device indicated. generally at 70 in FIG. 1 and finally by a roll-up device indicated at 71.

While any conventional take-up and roll-up mechanism may be used with this invention, the take-up and roll-up mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a unit rotatable between the legs 12 of the knitting machine frame on a bearing 72 secured on braces 73 between the frame legs 12 the take-up and roll-up unit is rotated with the needle cylinder by means of a pair of arms 7474 secured to the gear ring 13. The take-up unit revolves relatively to a gear 75 secured on the braces 73 and this relative rotation is harnessed by a pinion 76 carried by the rotating unit and meshing with the stationary gear 75 as is conventional in the art to drive a belt 77 which actuates the take-up device. By means of a frame '78 to which counterweights 79 may be attached, slippage of the belt 77 is controlled so that a uniform downward pull is exerted on the knitted fabric by the take-up device 70. The roll-up device 71 is driven by a belt 80 from the take-up device so as to remain automatically synchronized therewith. The downward pull which is exerted on the knit fabric may thus be selectively varied by selection of the amount or position of the counterweights 79, and the machine operator may thereby vary the takeup action and thus influence the density of the resulting knit fabric.

Secured to the central post 42 of the yarn stand is a circular ring 90 upon which is fastened a multiplicity of support bases 91 for yarn packages 92 adapted to sup ly yarn to the yarn carriers 60 at each feed of the knitting machine. Fixed at the top of the central post 42 is a bracket 93 having radial arms 94 each fitted with an unwinding eyelet 95 through one of which each yarn passes from a respective yarn package. A smaller bracket 96 fitted with eyelets 97 guides each of the yarns to an individual stop motion device 98 carried on a bracket 99 on the central post 42. While the stop motion devices 98 may be of any conventional type, that illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a series of eyelets 100 through which the yarn is successively passed and between two of which eyelets the yarn is engaged by a pivoted arm 101 which is slightly biased so as to swing up in the event of yarn breakage thus to close an electrical switch (not shown) and through suitable electrical connections to interrupt the actuation of the knitting machine motor 20.

Carried on a bracket 102 on the central post of the yarn stand beneath the stop motion device 98 are a multiplicity of yarn tensioning devices 103 one for each of the yarns. The yarn tensioning devices may be of any conventional type, those disclosed in FIG. 1 include a pair of yarn guides 104 between which extends an upstanding post 105. The yarn passes between a pair of yarn frictioning disks 106 which are freely movable lengthwise of the post 105 and biased together by weighted collars 107 on the post.

The variable yarn and stitch control device of this invention may be arranged conveniently between the vertical standards 40 of the machine frame and below the yarn tensioning devices 103 so as to take the yarn from the supply packages and deliver the yarn in any selected one of a wide range of conditions to the yarn carriers 60.

Referring to FIGS, 1 and 4, a pair of circular support rings 110, 111 are fixed in spaced coaxial relation each by a bracket 112 secured to the central post 42 of the yarn stand. Extending between and journaled in the support rings and 111 are a multiplicity of identical cylindrical yarn feed rollers 113 preferably disposed in evenly spaced relation and on parallel axes. Secured on each of the yarn feed rollers 113 preferably near the upper extremity adjacent to the support ring 110 are identical toothed sprocket wheels 114.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a link chain is directed about the circular array of yarn feed wheels in mesh with the toothed sprocket wheels 114 of each of the feed wheels. The link chain 115 is directed between two of the feed wheels and in mesh with a drive sprocket wheel 116 fast on a stud shaft 117 journaled in a plate 118 on the bracket 112 for the uppermost support ring 110. Also fast on the stud shaft 117 is a V belt pulley 119. A conventional V belt 120 is entrained on the pulley 119 and also on one of the companion sheaves 121 of a variable speed V belt pulley unit 122 carried on the plate 118. A conventional V belt 123 is entrained on the other companion sheave 124 of the variable speed V belt pulley unit 122 and extends to a plain pulley 125 fast on a shaft 126 journaled in brackets 127 and 128 on one of the vertical frame standards 40. By means of bevel gears 129 on the shaft 126 and on the knitting machine drive shaft 17 a drive is completed from the knitting machine motor 20 to the yarn feed rollers 113.

The variable speed V belt pulley unit 122 may be of any conventional construction and is preferably of that known type in which the effective pitch diameters of the companion sheaves 121124 may be varied inversely by angular adjustment of a regulating arm 130. For effecting such adjustment of the variable speed V belt pulley unit 122, a threaded shaft 131 threadedly engages a stud 132 on the regulating arm 130. The shaft 131 is constrained in a bearing bracket 133 on the support ring 110 by collars 134 on the shaft. A handle 135 may be fixed on the shaft to facilitate the adjustment. It will be understood that by means of the handle 135 and the variable speed pulley unit 122, the speed of rotation of the yarn feeding rollers 113 may be adjusted relatively to the speed of rotation of the knitting machine needle cylinder and that the relative sizes of the drive components for the yarn feed rollers may be chosen to provide any desired range of yarn feed roller speeds.

Between each of the yarn feed rollers 113 is secured a yarn separating and guiding unit indicated generally as 140. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, each yarn separating and guiding unit comprises a pair of mounting blocks 141 adapted to be secured as by bolts 142 one beneath the support ring 110 and the other above the support ring 111. Extending between each pair of mounting blocks 141 and secured thereon by set screws 143 are a pair of parallel cylindrical rods 144 on which are sandwiched a series of yarn guide plates 145 separated each bya spacing plate 146. There are at least as many yarn guidlng plates 145 on each guiding unit as there are feeds on the knitting machine and the yarn guiding plates and spacing plates 146 on all of the guiding units 140 are arranged to define collectively a series of parallel and vertically stock passageways 147, the said series being of substantially circular configuration and extending completely about the yarn feed rollers 113. A coil spring 148 between the upper mounting block 141 and the top most yarn guide plate 145 serves to bias the assembled plates firmly together.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a yarn which is constrained in any one of the passageways 147 will, is passing from one yarn guide unit to another, he engaged by the periphery of the yarn feed roller 113 therebetween, each yarn feed roller 113 being disposed projecting a like amount into the path of the yarns in each of the passageways 147.

For directing the ingress and egress of yarn to the passageways 147, each of the yarn separating and guiding units 140 is provided in place of at least one of the yarn guide plates 145, a retractable yarn introducing member 150. Each of the yarn introducing members 150 includes a finger grip portion 151 and a pair of spaced lengthwise slots 152 each embracing one of the rods 144 on the separating and guiding unit 140. The yarn introducing members 150 may thus be shifted endwise into the dashed line position or shifted back into the full line position illustrated in FIG. 3. Alongside one of the slots 152 each yarn introducing member is formed with a yarn ingress eyelet 153 and alongside the other of the slots 152, with a yarn egress eyelet 154.

In threading the yarn and stitch controlling device of this invention, the yarn from each tensioning device 103 is first threaded through the ingress eyelet 153 of one of the yarn introducing members 150. That yarn introducing member is then drawn outwardly into the dashed line position illustrated in FIG. 3, bringing the threaded ingress eyelet 153 outside of the array of feed rollers 113 and yarn guiding units 140. The yarn is then introduced into the passageway 147 in which that particular intro ducing member is situated, completely about the yarn and stitch controlling device. Thereafter the yarn is threaded through the egress eyelet 154 and the introducing member is returned to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 3. The yarn from the egress eyelet 154 is then brought downwardly inside the feed roller and to the appropriate yarn carrier 60.

When each of the yarns is threaded onto the yarn and stitch controlling device as described above, each of the yarns will circumscribe all of the feed rollers and each of the yarns will be constrained in a separate one of the passageways 147.

The yarn feed rollers 113 may be of polished metal, or they may be of either metallic or non-metallic construction with a random surface irregularity, such for instance, as a light sandblasting or anodized finish.

It will be understood that as illustrated in FIG. 1, the yarn introducing members 150 are preferably staggered each at a different level along the yarn separating and guiding units and that only one yarn introducing memher is required for each of the passageways 147 defined by the yarn guide plates. Any one yarn separating and guiding unit 140, however, may be fitted with more gila one yarn introducing member 150 as illustrated in In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings thirty two yarn feed rollers 113 are employed. Each yarn guiding and separating unit 140 defines sixty two yarn guiding passageways 147 and includes two yarn introducing members 150 so that a total of sixty four different yarns may be controlled by the illustrated device.

This invention however, comprehends considerable variation from the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings. The range of possible variation as will be discussed hereinbelow will be clarified in the light of the following discussion of the operation of the yarn and stitch controlling device of this invention.

Each yarn directed to the yarn controlling device of this invention, after it passes the ingress eyelet 153 of an introducing member 150, engages a small peripheral segment of a number of yarn feed rollers 113 in seriatim. The conditioning effect of this yarn controlling device upon any one individual yarn, therefore, is the gradual and cumulative effect of a series of small repetitive influences.

In order to provide a tensionon the yarns delivered to the yarn carriers, the peripheral speed of the yarn feed rollers should be adjusted within a range slightly less than that of the linear velocity of the yarn being utilized by the knitting instrumentalities. By regulating the peripheral speed of the yarn feed rollers within such range less than the linear velocity of the yarn, the tension applied to the yarn furnished to the yarn carriers 60 may 6 be adjusted to within extremely narrow limits and maintained with great consistency.

Considering for the moment the influence of the yarn controlling device of this invention on only one of the yarns directed thereto, it will be appreciated that the surface characteristics of the yarn will dictate the minimum number of feed rollers which must be used in seriatim in order to obtain optimum control of the yarn, while considerations of practicality will limit the maximum number of such yarn feed rollers. It has been found that with synthetic yarns which have been the most difficult to control, optimum conditioning can be obtained if the yarn is led into engagement with less than quarter segments of a suflicient number of yarn feed rollers so that the total angle subtended by said segments of engagement exceeds 360, i.e. the equivalent of one complete wrap of the yarn about one of the yarn feed rollers.

The benefits to be derived from this invention, however, extend not only to the consistent and accurate control of any individual yarn, but to the uniformity with which all of the yarns, or all of any one group of yarns may be controlled. To this end, it is a principle of this invention that not only shall each yarn engage in seriatim a small portion of a number of separate yarn feed elements but that all of the yarns to be conditioned will engage a sufficient number of the same yarn feed elements so that the conditioning effect on all of the yarns will be identical.

Beyond question, the highest degree of uniformity between yarns as for instance, of the tension applied to the various yarns, will be attained if all of the yarns are directed into engagement with all of the yarn feed rollers; each yarn will thus treated precisely alike. It is also possible, however, if the yarns share some but not all of the yarn feed rollers, to obtain a degree of uniformity such that the differences are unnoticeable. With certain yarns, the differences will be unnoticeable if even one of the yarn feed rollers is engaged by all of the yarns being controlled. It has been found that if of the feed rollers engaged by any one yarn, each other yarn engages at least half of those feed rollers, the differences in delivered condition of all the yarns will be practically undetectable.

As described above, the yarn controlling device of this invention may be used to apply consistent and uniform tension to the yarns delivered to the knitting instrumentalities. By a single adjustment provided by handle the tension applied to all of the yarns may be varied so as to influence the stitch configuration and stitch count in the resulting knit fabric during regular operation of the knitting machine.

By increasing the speed of rotation of the yarn feeding rollers 113, the yarns will be pushed to the yarn carriers in measured quantities precisely meeting the demand of the knitting instrumentalities. With this invention, as the handle 135 is adjusted so as to reduce the tension on the delivered yarn to zero, the yarns will be delivered in any quantity called for by the knitting instrumentalities completely free of tension and without pile-up of the yarn at the yarn carriers 60, thus obviating the troublesome aspect of overfeeding and pile-up of yarn experienced with most prior positive yarn feeding devices.

The absence of overfeeding and freedom from yarn pile up which is obtained with this invention when the device is adjusted so as to deliver yarns without tension to the knitting instrumentalities is of particular significance. With prior known positive yarn feeding devices while it was possible to deliver the yarn tensionless to the knitting instrumentalities such a condition was not a practical or usable one because the slightest variation in the yarn demand of the knitting instrumentalities would cause either the application of tension to the yarn of overfeeding and pile-up of the yarn before the carriers.

In the present invention, the application of a series of relatively small increments of the total conditioning effeet on the yarn in seriatim at a number of spaced points along the yarn contributes to the absence of overfeeding and pile-up. The vertical axis arrangement of the yarn feed rollers 113 and the provision of fiat horizontally disposed yarn guiding plates 145 between adjacent yarn feed rollers is also significant. As the feed rollers deliver the yarns without tension to the next succeeding yarn feed roller, the yarn will drop onto and be supported by a yarn guiding plate 145 rather than sagging into continued engagement with the feed roller as is the case with an ordinary yarn feed capstan.

It will be appreciated that this invention comprehends the use of more than one of the yarn controlling devices arranged, for instance, in tiers on a circular knitting machine so that different groups of yarns may be condition-ed, each group in a different manner.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of yarn feeding elements, means for directing yarn between each of said yarn supplies and said knitting instrumentalities into engagement with all of said multiplicity of yarn feeding elements, and means for imparting movement to each of said yarn feeding elements in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

2. A multi-fed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of like yarn feeding elements, means for directing yarn between each of said yarn supplies and said knitting instrumentalities into engagement with each of said yarn feeding elements in seriatim including yarn guiding elements disposed between each of said multiplicity of yarn feeding elements and defining a separate path for each of said yarns, and means for imparting like movement to each of said yarn feeding elements in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

3. A circular knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, a multiplicity of yarn carriers for introducing a multiplicity of yarns simultaneously to said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said yarn carriers comprising a multiplicity of yarn feeding elements, means for supporting said yarn feeding elements in a circular array substantially coaxially about said circular knitting machine, means for directing yarn between each of said yarn supplies and said yarn carriers in a circular loop into engagement with all of said multiplicity of yarn feed elements, and means for imparting movement to each of said yarn feeding elements in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities,

4. A knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, a yarn carrier for introducing a yarn to said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a yarn supply relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarn from said yarn supply to said yarn carrier comprising a multiplicity of yarn feed rollers, means for guiding a length of said yarn between said yarn supply and said yarn carrier into engagement with less than quarter segments of a sufficient number of said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers such that the total angle subtended by said segments engaged by said yarn exceeds 360, and means for imparting turning movement to each of said yarn feed rollers in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

5. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of yarn feed rollers, means for guiding equal lengths of each of said yarns between said yarn supply pacakages and said knitting instrumentalities into engagement each yarn with less than quarter segments of a sufficient number of said multiplicity of said yarn feed rollers such that the total angle subtended by said segments engaged by any one yarn exceeds 360 and such that at least one of said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers is engaged by each of said multiplicity of yarn, and means for imparting turning movement to each of said yarn feed rollers in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

6. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, a plurality of yarn carriers for introducing a plurality of yarns simultaneously to said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a plurality of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarn from said yarn supplies to said yarn carriers comprising, a multiplicity of yarn feed rollers arranged in a series, means for guiding a length of each one of said yarns between said yarn supply and yarn carrier into engagement with segments of a sufficient number of said yarn feed rollers in seriatim that every other of said plurality of yarns engages a segment of at least one of the yarn feed rollers engaged by said each one yarn, and means for imparting turning movement in unison to said yarn feed rollers in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

7. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, a plurality of yarn carriers for introducing a plurality of yarns simultaneously to said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a plurality of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarn from said yarn supplies to said yarn carriers comprising, a multiplicity of yarn feed rollers arranged in a series, a means for guiding a length of each one of said yarns between said yarn supply and yarn carrier into engagement with segments of a sufficient number of said yarn feed rollers in seriatim that every other of said plurality of yarns engages a segment of at least half of the yarn feed rollers engaged by said each one yarn, and means for imparting turning movement in unison to said yarn feed rollers in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

8. A device for furnishing a plurality of different yarns simultaneously and at equal tension to the knitting instrumentalities of a multi-feed circular knitting machine comprising, a guide track assembly defining substantially parallel circular passageways one for each of said plurality of different yarns, a plurality of cylindrical yarn feed rollers, means for journaling said yarn feed rollers relatively to said guide track assembly with each yarn feed roller projecting into the passageway for each of said different yarns, and drive means for imparting turning movement in unison to said yarn feed rollers.

9. A device for furnishing a yarn to the knitting instrumentalities of knitting machine at any selected tension comprising guide track elements arranged to define a path for a length of said yarn leading to said knitting instrumentalities, a driven yarn feeding means movable relatively to said guide track elements, means associated with said guide track elements for directing a plurality of successive spaced increments along said length of yarn simultaneously into engagement with said yarn feeding means, and means for varying the motion imparted to said driven yarn feeding means.

10. A device for furnishing a plurality of different yarns simultaneouly and at equal tension to the knittting instrumentalities of a multi-feed knitting machine, comprising guide track elements arranged to define substantially parallel paths for equal lengths of each of said plurality 9 of different yarns, a driven yarn feeding means movable relatively to said guide track elements, means associated with said guide track elements for directing successive spaced increments along the length of each of said different yarns into engagement with said yarn feeding means, and means for varying the motion imparted to said driven yarn feeding means.

11. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of yarn feeding elements, means for directing yarn between each of said yarn supplies and said knitting instrumentalities into engagement with all of said multiplicity of yarn feed elements, means for imparting movement to each of said yarn feed elements at the same rate relatively to the operation of said knitting instrumentalities and means for selectively varying the rate of movement of each of said yarn feed elements simultaneously relatively to the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

12. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, a plurality of yarn carriers for introducing a plurality of yarns simultaneously to said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a plurality of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarn from said yarn supplies to said yarn carriers comprising, a multiplicity of yarn feed rollers arranged in a series, means for guiding a length of each one of said yarns between said yarn supply and yarn carrier into engagement with segments of a sufficient number of said yarn feed rollers in seriatim that every other of said plurality of yarns engages a segment of at least one of the yarn feed rollers engaged by said each one yarn, means for imparting turning movement in unison to said yarn feed rollers in timed relation with the operation of said knitting instrumentalities, and means for selectively varying the velocity of turning movement of said yarn feed rollers relatively to the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

13. A device for furnishing a plurality of different yarns simultaneously and at equal tension to the knitting instrumentalities of a multi-feed knitting machine, comprising a multiplicity of yarn engaging feed elements supported in spaced relation, a plurality of series of yarn guide elements one for each of said different yarns and defining substantially parallel passageways for each of said different yarns, each yarn guide element providing a horizontal yarn supporting surface, one of said plurality of series of yarn guide elements disposed between each of said multiplicity of yarn feed elements and drive means for imparting movement to each of said yarn feed elements in timed relation with said knitting machine.

14. A device for furnishing a plurality of different yarns simultaneously and at equal tension to the knitting instrumentalities of a multi-feed knitting machine, comprising, a multiplicity of driven cylindrical yarn feed rollers, means for journaling said yarn feed rollers on parallel vertical axes, a yarn separating and guiding units disposed between each of said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers, said yarn separating and guiding units each including a vertically stacked multiplicity of yarn guide elements each element providing a horizontal yarn supporting surface for one of said different yarns between adjacent yarn feed rollers.

15. A device for furnishing a plurality of different yarns simultaneously and at equal tension to the knitting instrumentalities of a circular m-ulti-feed knitting machine, comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical yarn feed rollers, means for journaling said yarn feed rollers on parallel vertical axes substantially equally spaced about a circle concentrically of said circular knitting machine, a yarn separating and guiding unit disposed between each of said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers, said yarn separating and guiding units each including a vertically stacked multiplicity of yarn guide elements each element providing a horizontal yarn supporting surface for one of said different yarns between adjacent yarn feed rollers, and a common drive means operated in timed relation with said knitting machine for imparting turning movement to each of said yarn feed rollers.

16. A device for conditioning a yarn between a yarn supply package and the knitting elements of a knitting machine, comprising a multiplicity of driven yarn feed rollers journaled on parallel axes in a circular array, yarn guide elements disposed between certain of said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers and together defining a circular passageway for said yarn about said yarn feed rollers, a yarn introducing member disposed between a selected pair of said yarn feed rollers and formed with a yarn ingress eyelet and with a yarn egress eyelet, and means for supporting said yarn introducing member with said ingress and egress eyelets disposed radially inwardly of said circular array of yarn feed rollers.

17. A device for furnishing a plurality of different yarns simultaneously and at equal tension to the knitting instrumentalities of a multi-feed knitting machine, comprising a multiplicity of driven cylindrical yarn feed rollers journaled on parallel axes in a circular array, a yarn separating and guiding unit disposed between each of said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers, each yarn separating a gliding unit including a vertically stacked series of yarn guiding elements cooperating with the yarn guiding elements of each other yarn separating and guiding unit to define a series of parallel passageways about said multiplicity of yarn feed rollers, one passageway for each of said different yarns, and at least one yarn introducing member formed with eyelets providing for ingress and egress of one of said different yarns to each respective one of said passageways.

18. A device as set forth in claim 15 in which said yarn separating and guiding units each comprises a vertical support member along which said yarn guiding elements and said at least one yarn introducing member are constrained in stacked relation.

19. A device as set forth in claim 18 in which each yarn introducing member accommodates said vertical support member in an elongate slot, and in which a finger grip portion is formed on each of said yarn introducing members for shifting said yarn introducing member transversely of said support member to facilitate threading of yarn in said eyelets.

20. A knitting machine having a circular bank of knitting instrumentalities means for supporting a yarn package, relatively to said knitting instrumentalities, and means for furnishing a yarn from a yarn package on said support means to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of driven yarn feed elements arranged in spaced relation, and means for maintaining in engagement with said yarn feed elements in seri-atim a length of said yarn at least equal to the circumference of said circular bank of knitting instrumentalities.

21. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, actuating means for operating said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of like yarn feeding elements, means for directing yarn between each of said yarn supplies and said knitting instrumentalities into engagement with each of said yarn feeding elements in seriatim, and means for imparting like movement to each of said yarn feeding elements including a common drive element operatively engaging each of said yarn feeding elements, and means operaitvely connecting said common drive element with said actuating means for said knitting instrumentalities.

22. A multi-feed knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities, actuating means for operating said knitting instrumentalities, and means for supporting a multiplicity of yarn supplies relatively to said knitting machine, means for furnishing yarns from said multiplicity of yarn supplies to said knitting instrumentalities comprising a multiplicity of cylindrical yarn feed rollers of equal diameter, means for directing yarn between each of said yarn supplies and said knitting instrumentalities into engagement with each of said yarn feeding rollers in seriatim, means for imparting turning movement to each of said yarn feeding rollers including a common drive element operatively engaging each of said yarn feed rollers, drive means operatively connecting said common drive element with said actuating means for said knitting instrumentalities, and operator influenced speed the turning movement of said yarn feed rollers relatively to the operation of said knitting instrumentalities.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,738 2/1953 Lawson 66-132 2,967,413 1/1961 Jackson et al. 66-132 3,090,215 5/1963 Rosen 66-132 FOREIGN PATENTS 716,591 1/ 1942 Germany.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

control means in said drive means for selectively varying 15 RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner. 

1. A MULTI-FEED KNITTING MACHINE HAVING KNITTING INSTRUMENTALITIES AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTIION A MULTIPLICITY OF YARN SUPPLIES RELATIVELY TO SAID KNITTING MACHINE, MEANS FOR FURNISHING YARNS FROM SAID MULTIPLICITY OF YARN SUPPLIES TO SAID KNITTING INSTRUMENTALITIES COMPRISING A MULTIPLICITY OF YARN FEEDING ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR DIRECTING YARN BETWEEN EACH OF SAID YARN SUPPLIES AND SAID KNITTING INSTRUMENTALITIES INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL OF SAID MULTIPLICITY OF YARN FEEDING ELEMENTS, AND MEANS FOR IMPARTING MOVEMENT TO EACH OF SAID YARN FEEDING ELEMENTS IN TIMED RELATION WITH THE OPERATION OF SAID KNITTING INSTRUMENTALITIES. 